Pipe-vise.



PATENTED NOV. 3. 1903.

W. J. GRINDBN.

PIPE VISE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2.4. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

Wm 1 arm/L No. 743,072. PATENTBD NOV. 3; 1903.

W. .T. GRINDEN. PIPE VISE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1903.

' N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"uummmr Snow atop Grinderv qmw 3.61M V W UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. .GRINDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO J. H. WILLIAMS AND COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PIPE-VISE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 743,072, dated November 8, J. 903.

Application filed June 24, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GRINDEN, of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe- Vises, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates more particularly to that type or character of pipe-vise shown and described in the patent to William Vander man, No. 455,136, dated June 30, 1891, which patent is owned by my assignee. In the Vanderman patent is shown a construction wherein a fixed jaw is employed, a clamping-chain associated with the jaw and susceptible of adj ustment, and a screw member designed to clamp the chain tight onto a pipe, and thereby clamp the same firmly against rotation. The said patented construction, however, embodies a jaw which is located at one side of the plane of the chain and in addition thereto employs a setting-screw which is positioned to extend above the clampingjaws. The chain when in use is connected to the settingscrew and to the frame of the vise above the jaw and above the seat of the pipe in the jaw. These expedients are more or less objectionable in that the pressure of the chain against the jaw is not in a direct line and tends to tilt the pipe, the pipe is inadequately encir-' cled by the chain, and the position of the set;

. screw is such as to be somewhat in the way Other objections are found of the operator. in the prior construction which, in addition to the above, are overcome by the construction presently to be described.

In the accompanying drawings is shown an embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the general and detail construction without in the least departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates the invention in plan View. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a part of the base broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line between the two stationary jaws and showing the handle or lever. part in elevation. Fig. 4 is a front view. Fig. 5 is a top detail plan view Serial No. 162,836. (No model.)

of the base with the fixed jaws, a modification being also shown. Fig. 6 is a plan, and Fig. 7 an elevation, of a modified form; and Fig. 8 is a side view of bending-jaws shown in Fig. 5.

Ais the base portion, which is conveniently flat on its upper face and has a transverse channel a, Fig. 5, leading in from one side at or near one end thereof. The walls at the sides of the channel or space a have their upper portions slightly cut away, leaving flanges b, Fig. 4, for purposes presently to be stated.

Removably mounted near one end of the base A are two substantially like rigid jaws B and C. These jaws are formed conveniently with lugs g at or near their opposite ends, (one of which is shown in Fig. 2,) which lugs enter into suitable apertures formed in the base. The jaws are so positioned as to be separated, leaving therebetween a space for the tightening-chain or flexible clamp, presently referred to. each jaw B Gis constructed with an angular recess, constituting a seat for the pipe, the upper edges of the converging walls of which are provided with a multitude of biting teeth or points a, which, as shown in Fig. 2, are of various sizes, decreasing in size toward the bottom of the recess, thereby permitting the vise to be used conveniently with pipes of different diameters. ter will be grasped by teeth of large size on each side near the mouth of the recess or seat, while a pipe of smaller diameter would seek a lower portion of the seat and be grasped by an equal number of the smaller teeth.

The ,jawsB and O can readily be removed.

all as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

D is the clamping-chain or what may be. I properly. termed a flexible clamp. member is of any convenient length and is The upper part of.

Apipe of large diame- This formed of a series of-links and pintles d, which project laterally beyond the sides of the links. The width of the chain is slightly less than the width of the space a between the flanges 19, while the length of the pintles is greater than the width of the space between the flanges, bnt is less than the width of the space above the flanges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. By this means and by the reduction of the width of the base at the space a the pintles are permitted to be entered or placed below the flanges b, the pintle immediately above entering above the flanges. This forms a very secure connection between the base and the chain, and, as will be observed, the chain can be moved into and out of the space or from contact with the securing-flanges b and adjusted to suit the different diameters of pipe or other work being clamped. The opposite end of the chain D is pivotally secured at c, Fig. 3, to a block E, having a screw-threaded stem, which latter is passed through a suitable vertical opening f, formed in the base between the fixed jaws at one side of the bottom of their recesses or seats. On the lower end of the block E is placed a nut F of a length substantially equal to that of the threaded stem and which is capable also of rotation on the stem. Pivotally secured to the nut F is a set lever or handle G, comprising a handle portion and two branched arms h, having inturned ends fitted in sockets formed in the opposite sides of the nut at or near the base or lower end thereof. The positioning of the sockets and the shaping of the branched arms are such that the lever G is susceptible of swinging on the base or lower end of the nut, as from the perpendicular position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to a position at right angles, as shown in Fig. 4. This arrangement is advantageous in that it permits of the rapid turning of the nut for normally setting the parts and a powerful leverage (when the handle is turned up) to positively clamp the pipe in the vise. This construction also enables the handle to be conveniently manipulated in close quarters. The

upper end of the nut abuts against a washer or projection 91 on the under surface of the base, and when the nut is turned its abutting-surface loosely moves or slides on this projection. It is to be understood, however, that the nut may be, if found desirable, brought into direct contact with the lower face of the base. In securing the handle-lever to the nut it is advantageous to make the lever as an integral unit, but with elasticity in its arms, and to enable the ends of the trunnions on the arms to be placed in their sockets the nut is conveniently cut out or channeled on opposite sides from the sockets, as shown at m at its upper end, the channels being, however, of a less depth than the depth of the sockets. By this means the forked ends of the lever can be slightly sprung apart, in-

serting theirtrunnions or inturnedends in the channels and forcing the nut upward, carrying the inturned ends into the sockets, into which they will immediately spring. 'When the nut is turned by the lever, the purchase will be in a transverse direction relative to the length of the nut, and the trunnions will not spring out of the sockets.

In operation a pipe is placed in the seat of the toothed jaws, the chain or flexible clamp is drawn over the pipe, and its free end is locked to the base, a preliminary adjustment of the other end of the chain is made by the handle while in its vertical position, and thereafter the chain is drawn down tight onto the pipe by the screw-block through the medium of the nut, the handle being then in a horizontal position for the purpose of securing greater leverage. It will be noticed also that by having the jaws on opposite sides of the flexible clamp the strain is brought directly on the pipe and the pipe is held at all times in the proper horizontal position with the teeth of the jaws engaging the sides of the pipe throughout the entire thickness of the jaws, as distinguished from the prior structure heretofore mentioned, which has a tendency to tilt the pipe. It will further be noted that the chain when in use is connected to the base at both ends, at one end being locked to the base by the rigid lock constituted by the bottom of the base at both sides of the slot 66 and at the other end by the adjusting-block E. The chain is connected both to the fixed lock and to the adjustable block below the jaw-seats constituted by the serrated recesses, so that the said connections for the opposite ends of the chain are comparatively close together. This is important because it secures large areas of contact between the chain and pipe and because the clamping strain is substantially perpendicular to the base, thus forcing the pipe squarely against the serrations of the jaw-seats and utilizing the entire clamping strain. The base is provided with appropriate apertures 0, by means of which it can be bolted to any suitable bench or other support and has bottom lugs 29, Fig. 4, to position it on the bench.

In Figs. 5 and 8 are shown at H two upwardly-extending rigid forked brackets separated one from the other and rigid with the base and constituting a pipe-bender. These brackets are formed with their upper forks or legs extending above the center of the lower circular portion. A pipe being placed within the forks of the brackets can be readily bent.

All parts are preferably of steel, and owing to the separability of the jaws they can be made of a higher grade of steel than the base, which is desirable, since the jaws receive the greatest wear.

While the various features shown in Figs. 1 t0 5, inclusive, are all important and preferable, nevertheless a serviceable vise can be produced omitting some of the features. For example, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the jaws can be rigid with the base, they need have no angular seats, and their serrations may not be graduated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A vise having, in combination, a base, complementary jaws on the base, a flexible clamp having one end freely engaging with a fixed part or lock of the vise and an adjustable block to which the other end of the clamp is secured, said clamp being located between the said jaws. i

2. A vise having, in combination, a base, complementary jaws on the base, a flexible clamp detachably secured to the base at one end, a tightening device attached to the opposite end of the flexible clamping member, and means located below the base for actuating the said tightening device.

3. A vise having, in combination, complementary jaws and an intermediate flexible clamp, means for securing one end of the I flexible clamp against movement, a threaded block at the opposite end of the clamp, a nut on said block located below the base, and a lever on the nut.

4. A vise having, in combination, a base, removable complementary jaws, a flexible clamp located between the jaws, means for securing one end of the clamp against movement, athreaded block at the opposite end of the member, and a nut located below the base engaging with said block.

6. A vise having, in combination, a base having a rigid jaw thereon, a flexible clamp associated with said jaw, a nut on the clamp having channeled sides and sockets in the sides at the ends of the channels, and a handlever having forked ends formed with inturned portions fitting in said sockets.

7. A vise having, in combination, a base, complementary jaws, a flexible clamp located between the jaws, means for securing one end of the clamp against movement, and a setting device located on the base engaging the opposite end of the clamp.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing WM. J. GRIN DEN.

1 witnesses. 

